The Journey Has Just Begun

Stepping into Colloquium, I was prepared for the uninteresting aspect of this mandatory class. The warnings were given and I was ready to endure whatever was about to be presented to me. Contrary to my expectations, I was intrigued by the nature of the class and the incredible stories that lie within my environment. I found that the explanation of why this class is given was a great way for me to get some perspective about Southwest Florida and FGCU.



I have always had a great appreciation for nature, but due to my busy lifestyle I lost a lot of that. Colloquium rebirthed in me the excitement nature holds and the incredible ways I can learn from it. Every field trip kept me wanting more. They were my way of getting back in touch with my world this semester and the increased exposure to the natural world were quiet moments for me to just stop and relax. I enjoyed every minutes of it.

The readings were very interesting, a little hard to grasp sometimes, but overall encouraging material. I began to see the importance of this class in regard to my major, Special Education. I knew that natural exposure was healthy for children, but I did not grasp the major impact this has on a child's life. It helped me realize some of the things I must strive to do as a teacher. No child should go without any exposure to the beauty of the world they live in. They need to be outside, completely submerged with green leafy plants, and the vibrant colors of the natural world. No matter a child's struggle, they need natural experiences to enhance their learning and grant them the opportunity I had to refresh my mind and have a greater connection with my environment.

Even though the service learning hours were very difficult for me to incorporate into my schedule, I actually enjoyed the work I did. I got me down and dirty with the earth, and I feel like I had the opportunity to make a small difference in our environment. I was able to meet some awesome people and get some incredible pictures everywhere I went. My eyes were opened.

The review before the quizzes was definitely helpful for the field trips, if i missed anything, I wouldn't miss out. Having to read that book and handle everything else in my semester was very difficult for me. It was interesting once the book was brought to life in downtown, but before that I had a hard time paying attention to the story.


Colloquium was an awesome experience, there was not one moment I regret.



"Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves." John Muir

Word Count: 486

Species of the Floridian life

It is the beauty of our Floridian species that make up the desire to be in our irresistible environment. I knew such plant life existed, but did not realize the complexity of the world around me and the hidden majesty that awaited my discovery.

Slash Pines are tall with few branches. These are multiplied through heat burning the pine cones until their seeds are expelled. 

Bald Cypress are found within swampy areas. These have incredible root systems which come out of the water as knees. The wood is extremely durable and resistant to rotting. Back in history this tree was prized for its incredible wood. Now there are not many of these trees left and must be protected within their existing ecosystem like at Corkscrew. 

Strangler Fig is a plant that can strangle the life out of trees, but lives in harmony with Bald Cypress trees.

Cabbage Palms are the state tree of Florida. They have boots which provide a shelter for numerous living creatures. Their fronds which look like the palm of a hand have been used to create the roofs of Chickee huts during Florida's early years. 

Royal Palms are majestic trees which resemble cement. They fascinate me every time I see them. They are originally from Cuba and were brought to Florida by Mina Edison. They line McGregor Boulevard in Downtown Fort Myers. They are all around the same height and have grown at a similar rate. This consistency with Royal Palms is unheard of.

I found the wild sun flowers to be so elegant. The fact that we were able to visit when they are in bloom was a wonderful opportunity. 

There were numerous animals I got the opportunity to hear more than I saw. The woodpecker was fascinating to hear as we stood in silence amidst the nature walk. Barred owls and frogs made their appearance in the distance and were a pleasure to have shared the afternoon with in the same sanctuary.

Word Count: 328

Sanctuary of the Corkscrew Swamp

This location was one I had never heard of. I was astonished by the ecosystems that regulate in their natural ways. As I stepped foot onto the boardwalk my eyes captured the beauty that surrounded me; I was breathless. I longed to be secluded from the stress of a technologically advanced world. This field trip enabled me to better increase my sense of place in my environment.

The boardwalk led us to a timeline of history that revealed the difficulties the natural world endured. Birds were killed for their stylish feathers and rare trees were being used for producing materials. Guards were positioned to keep the area safe and free of trespassers. This job was fatal for numerous men. 

We made our way into each separate ecosystem: The Pine Flatwoods,Cypress swamp, and Oak Hammock. Each section contributes a part to the harmony of the sanctuary. It becomes gradually wetter and drier in certain areas and fluctuates as water is filtered through the swamp. This not only encourages plant life, but certain animals would be unable to survive if this water flow was inhibited.

Pine Flatwoods are characterized by their slash pines and dry ground. This area needs to be burned every few years to encourage the Pine’s seeds to explode and to remove unnecessary brush that inhibits any species from multiplying. We had the opportunity to see a habitat that had been properly burned and a habitat that was completely overgrown.

Bald Cypress trees were an incredible sight to see. This area houses some of the last in existence. They have the ability to live for long periods of time and grow very large. Within this ecosystem, smaller trees reside outside of the habitat due to their experiences with the elements of nature.

The Oak hammock houses numerous trees such as Live Oak, Sabal Palms,and wild coffee. This area is characterized by its high, sandy, leafy ground.   

Wild Florida Sunflowers playing in the sun.

Word Count 319